Sorry for the delay. Work, holiday, more work, sickness… Well, real life likes interfering!

A Nanny Fairy Tale

Chapter 9: The enemy shows his ugly face

Niles woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door.

Well, in fact, it was not exactly knocking. Someone was more like pounding on it.

Seated on his bed, suddenly full aware, he realized they were not really pounding: people were trying to put his door down while shouting.

He jumped out of his bed with the horrible idea that the Castle could be in danger: all the people he knew and love and had very complicated relationships were there, needing him, and the fact he seemed to recognize the voices calling his name through the door made him open it without hesitation.

However, when he opened it, he saw two very known faces and a bunch of repentant looking soldiers.

Realization and a heavy object hit him, and the world went black.

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Some time later, Niles was sitting on an uncomfortable bench of the Castle's prison. His head had stopped hurting some moments ago.

He was furiously thinking of means of escaping this situation, because now he was really sure everybody he knew and love and had very complicated relationships was in mortal danger.

'So, you really managed to be locked away', Fran's voice made him jump to his feet.

She was by the door of his cell, two guards standing behind her.

With the hands on her hips and a scowl on her face, she was the image of pretended mock.

Niles gave two steps into her direction and tried to sound nonchalant, 'And it seems I'm pretty good at it…', the guards obeyed the shooing motion the woman made, and he permitted himself to relax and show his anxiety, '... once I didn't do a bloody thing!'

Despite her own obvious worry, she smiled at him. 'It's not what people are saying, sweetie'.

He made a derisive gesture. 'You mean people or those two bastards I saw at my door this morning?'

'So you managed to see them before they brought you here?'

Niles seated again and crossed his arms in indignation, 'I should have smelled them. Sir Chandler and Sir Colin… Who else would try something against me?'

It was Fran's turn to be indignant, 'If you saw them and knew they were not reliable, why did you open the door and agree to come here?'

'I never stood a chance to fight! They hit me in the head!', Niles said, pouting, 'I suppose they had to carry me here, what amends some of this situation'.

Fran made a puzzled face at this. 'You're in prison, your enemies have power in their hands and you're fancying about being carried by a group of men…?'

Niles was up again. 'I'm not fancying anything, Fran. I just know those guys enough. They probably have a bad plan. Once Maxwell knows what they've done, he will end this stupidity'.

'The bad news, darling, is that King Maxwell knows you're here'.

'Oh'. Niles thought for a moment. 'Well, once I speak to Maxwell he will help me to get rid of them. I'm sure he is being made wrong'. He looked at her hopefully, 'That is why you are here, isn't that? To take me to the King, so I can tell him the truth?'

'Yes, it is, and it cost me a lot of pleading. You're lucky that I'm good at that'. She received a grateful smile for that. 'Speaking of luck, you'll need it'.

'Why?'

'They convinced him you've been involved in what they called sinful activities'.

Niles blushed thinking of kisses under the moonlight. 'What is it exactly that they saw?'

'They saw you making connections with men of the villages'.

'?'

'Training them'.

Niles gave some steps back, stunned. 'I don't believe this. Maxwell thinks I was planning something against him? That's what those rats have told him?'

Fran just nodded.

'He ordered my prison?'

'Of course, not! The guys did it and told him after, saying it was a preventive measure!'

'Those bastards…'

'Niles, listen. I'm here because he wants to talk to you. Even if those two guys were against it, he insisted on listening to what you have to say. He is uncertain, Niles, but they are being very convincing! You'll have to seize this opportunity, because it may be the only one you'll have!'

'I see'.

The knight seemed to be calming down and organizing his thoughts. Fran stayed silent and still, waiting for him to say something.

When he did, his face had sureness all over it. 'Fran, be calm. I'm sure Maxwell will understand what is happening. He is not a fool, and he can recognize honesty when he sees it. The proof is in front of me'.

She smiled sweetly at him. 'Thank you, dear… And you are right! I'm sure he knows you enough to see through all of this. Are you prepared to defend yourself?'

'Yes, let's go'.

Fran called the nearest guard and he came to open the cell. Niles stepped out, thanked the man and started walking besides Fran, being followed by a group of armed men who, strangely, didn't make any gesture to guarantee he would not run away.

'You know', she said, in a very low tone, indicating the guards with her head. 'The guys told me they're with you'.

'Yes, I know, but I won't ask anything of them. That's what those devils want – to show the King that I would turn his own men against him'.

She noticed he was looking around anxiously, while talking.

'What are you looking for?'

He blushed. 'The witch. Where is she?'

'I thought you knew'.

They were out of the prison, now, entering a corridor, and Niles stopped. 'Something happened to her?'

Fran indicated for him to resume walking. 'She escaped earlier'.

He obeyed. 'How?'

'Nobody knows. They just know it was breakfast time, one second she was there, the other she was not. The two bad knights even said she probably was working for you'.

Niles went pale. Those were bad news.

It was his luck the path to the main room of the Castle was long, because he had a lot to think through, if he wanted to stand a chance.

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A tense silence welcomed them.

The King was sitting at the throne, his face pensive – a heavy load seemed to be resting on his shoulders.

At each side of him, Niles saw the two men he now knew were spying on him while waiting for the best occasion to attack.

They knew that without him the King would be a weaker target; they knew, also, that Niles could never warn the King about it without offending him.

So, the perfect occasion has come: Niles had been contacting new people, there was a witch inside the Castle, the King was insecure and weakened. They took Niles to prison in hopes to separate him and Maxwell, and now were there, posing as his loyal counselors.

It was really fortunate that Fran was there; even if Maxwell knew Niles was innocent, he would never go against his noblemen. He hated conflict. Fran, with her sweet ways, had this power to overcome Maxwell's fears. That was exactly what that man needed.

Niles made a mental note to remember that, after all of this was solved, he had to guarantee that the King would marry Fran. It would be the best for everyone.

Concentrating on the task at hand, he noticed there were a lot of other people in the room when Fran went to the side of the King's children: some visibly frightened noblemen and some soldiers, showing clearly how disgusted they were at the situation, completed the scenery.

Maxwell got to his feet once he saw Niles. He contained himself to not show how relieved he really was upon seeing his most trustful knight, but his face showed he desperately needed some help in this.

Calmer after seeing the King's reaction, Niles walked to the center of the room, a scowl on his face, the eyes never leaving the King's ones.

Fran gave a relieved sigh: she was good at reading people, and it was clear that a message was being passed through the two men.

Niles' voice boomed in the tense room. 'What is it with this kingdom, now, that people are arrested for being themselves?'

Maxwell welcomed the opening line with a restrained smile, as Niles guessed he would, and had to hide his smirk in a fierce expression. 'Explain yourself, Knight. We don't speak by riddles, here'.

Niles threw a disgusted face around the room. 'I have been walking around the territory, meeting people, gathering information and seizing the opportunity to discover brand new knights for our ranks for decades. Tell me, your Majesty, how all of this is suddenly wrong'.

'There is nothing wrong with it'.

'In my last visits I decided to listen to the needs of the people, and I started thinking about them with care. I would bother the King with this matter only when I had useful ideas. That has been my method for years. Tell me, your Majesty, how all of this is suddenly wrong'.

'Again, I say there is nothing wrong with it'.

'Then please, explain to me why should I be put in jail when all that I've been doing for the last days is exactly what I've doing for all of my life! Have I been distrustful to you in any sense, your Majesty?'

Before Maxwell could answer, Colin finally seemed to sense the danger and came to stand between Niles and the King, breaking their eye contact. 'You speak very freely, after being in jail…'

Chandler took the hint and came, too. 'The King has no obligation of answering you. Do you really think you have the right to ask anything of him, after what you've done?'

'A lifetime of serving with my heart and soul is what I've done. It is more than any of you two can offer at any circumstances'. Niles shot them a disgusted glare. 'I would still be joyfully doing it, if I were not arrested'. Seeing his bravery made Chandler give a step behind, Niles proceeded, 'What makes you think this plan is better than any other? Are the circumstances so right you couldn't let it go?'

'You, for sure, thought these circumstances to be the best', Colin came closer. 'You finally managed to have witches with you again'.

'What do you mean by 'again'?'

Chandler felt supported and came back. 'The guards saw you visiting the prisoner yesterday, and they declared you two seemed very… at easy with each other. She escaped this morning. It is clear you two knew each other from a previous occasion. Confess there was a plan!'

'For God' sake! I've met her two days ago! There is no plan!'

'Are you sure? Because it is very similar to the way other witches came to this Kingdom…', Chandler said.

It was dangerous lands, and the King got up, furious, 'I've met my late wife in a party and we loved each other from the very first moment we saw each other. I won't permit a single word against her memory in this room. Niles had nothing to do with the way we felt for each other'.

'I beg you, Sir, forgive Chandler', Colin said. 'He didn't intend to offend. We will detain ourselves in the present situation'. The King nodded and he turned to Niles. 'Why did she run away?'

That was irritating. 'I don't know, Colon'.

The man was livid at that. 'Maybe you should go and kill her to prove you're truthful to our King!'

'I would never do that'.

'I told you, your Majesty! This man is hiding something!'

'Why should I kill an innocent to prove my innocence? It makes no sense at all!'. Suddenly, Niles had a realization. 'In fact, it makes sense if I think you want her dead because she knows something about you… Maybe she is innocent and you are playing with her, using her to gain the King's support for something…'

Colin was suddenly agitated. 'How do you know she is innocent?'

'How do you know she is not?'

'You can bet I know!'

Maxwell got up, 'Please, gentlemen!'

Niles was not happy. 'What do you mean, Colon? Have you met her before?'

There was a sword on Colin's neck before the man could think of evading it. 'Of course, not!', was all he managed to say, his voice trembling with fear.

'I'm serious, here...', Niles looked now at Chandler, 'Who will be the first to talk?'

'We know her!', Colin yelled, panicked.

'Shut up!', Chandler tried to quiet the other man.

Niles ignored him and squinted at Colin again. 'How's that?'

'We have talked to the people who sent her here. They intended to destroy King Maxwell. They are relatives to the late Queen and wanted revenge. That woman came to discover our weak points and go tell them'.

'Yes! That's it!', Chandler was a bit too eager to agree.

Niles released Colin and looked pointedly at Chandler, 'You're terrible liars'. He made a face of disgust at his enemies. 'All right, I'm over it. We had enough of this stupid game'. He turned to the King. 'Your Majesty, these men know nothing. They had attempted to take the reign before, you have forgiven them, but now they are really risking all of our lives while saying bad things about a family that made nothing against us'.

Maxwell knew when Niles was being serious, so he gave him all of his attention, never discussing the intentions of his late wife's family, as he would normally do. 'Enlighten us with the things you know, Clever Knight'.

Niles stopped to think for some instants. Everybody was very curious, waiting for him to speak. Fran seated and looked at her nails, now totally sure things were well. 'The witch really came here to see if she could convince you to change your mind about the forest. She probably went away when she discovered those two were ready to turn the tables to their favor, implying she was a spy'.

'It makes sense', Maxwell agreed. There was a murmur of support among the noblemen and the soldiers who were watching the scene.

'The danger I see is: she is probably going back to the place she came from; she is going to meet the very men who sent her… What is it she will tell them?'

Maxwell frowned. 'She can tell them we are in the middle of a crisis'.

The group reacted with more frightened murmurs.

'Probably. And that would bring an attack on us, once you never agreed with her terms'.

'Then… should we prepare our soldiers?'

'Not yet. I think it is possible she tries to defend us and buy us some time…'

'The… no soldiers?'

'Calm down… She may try to defend a new negotiation; however, I don't believe she will succeed, because something tells me those two', and he pointed to Colin and Chandler, who were now very quiet, 'had something else planned…'

Maxwell was now confused, 'What do you suggest, Niles?'

He turned to the King, determination in his voice. 'We must stop her. I'll go and bring her back, so we can start it all over again, now without them pestering around'.

Maxwell nodded and made a gesture for the guards. 'Take those two to their rooms, and make sure they stay there. I'll call them when it is resolved, so we can discuss their future'.

The guards obeyed with not vey subtle joy, and Maxwell resumed. 'But... what if you're wrong, Niles? What if that woman was really a spy, and all of this is a plan to give information to the enemy? She won't come back with you!'

Niles looked at Fran, who was now staring at them, obviously tense. 'Maxwell, don't you trust her?'

'Who, Fran?', surprised, he threw a sweet look at her. 'Yes, I do. With all of my heart'.

'Why?'

The King was wide eyed at the question. 'I don't see what my… choices have to do with this'.

Niles looked at the other man and came closer, so he was speaking just to the King's ears to hear him. 'You don't know, do you? The only thing you cal tell, for sure, is that you feel she is… the one, isn't it?'. There was something very similar to awe in Maxwell's eyes. 'That's how I trust that woman I call witch. I can't explain what I feel when I look into her eyes, but I know I must give my heart and soul to the task of reaching what is the truest about her'. Niles' eyes sent a pleading look. 'Let me investigate this my way. I'll find the answers you need... the answers we all need…'

'It mat cost your life…'

'There are very few things in life worth to die for. To fight for someone who makes you feel like this is one of them'.

Maxwell gulped, sighed deeply and simply said, 'She went Northeast'.

It was Niles' turn to be surprised. 'How do you know that?'

'She let it written on the wall of her cell'.

'Then… she wants to be followed…'. Niles smiled and announced to the room, 'I must go, my King. And I swear I shall be back with the truth as company'.

Maxwell nodded. 'Yes, you may go'. He came closer to the knight and put a hand on his shoulder. 'Please, Niles, I already said how much I rely on you. Choose the right path'.

Niles smirked at that. 'That is what the Clever always does, isn't it?'